Christmas A Go Go!

From all @ Christmas A GoGo!, a heartfelt Happy New Year! Thanks to all artists for providing us with brilliant songs, thanks to all visitors for stopping by and sending in tips. Hope to see y'all next November. Until then:

Xmas in Bed is one of three seasonal tracks by Brit pop star Eliza Doolittle. This is an original:

Gravel-voiced rendition by 'Dark Mark' Lanegan of O Holy Night:

One of the bestest Christmas music blogs out there is Stubby's. Every year, the cats-and-seasonal-song-obsessed Stubby compiles a fantastic compilation with new Xmas songs. Go HERE to download. A be quick!

'Zo, Dit is Kerstmis' (So, This is Christmas') was a compilation released by Dutch broadcasting company VPRO in 1998. It featured covers (in English) and original seasonal songs by Dutch rockbands, tv-personalities and comedians. One of the best Christmas compilations ever to be released in the Netherlands. Since yesterday, it's on Soundcloud .

A befriended rock journalist dubbed 2013 the year of psych. Thanks to the nice people at Now Again Records, you can get a head start and enjoy a psych Christmas with South Korea's He 5 and their 1969 album Merry Christmas - Psychedelic Sound. Read more here

The bestest new Christmas track has a video too: Want to download this one? It's on this great free compilation .

Gwen Thomas (she who wrote this awesome guestpost last year) recorded a gorgeous Christmas song with former Bettie Serveert -member Berend Dubbe: It's Christmas Time by G.T. Thomas feat. Berend Dubbe

A husky seasonal song by Dutch singer Tessa Rose Jackson. Check out her other songs too: Winter Night by Tessa Rose Jackson

Download: Three Blonde Mice - Ringo Bells More Christmas songs about Ringo Starr? See this !

Cornershop made a pretty cool video for their new Christmas song!

Such an awesome song. I wish I could buy it somewhere... Is this really from 1991? It still sounds fresh to me!

For the eighth year in a row The Blues Are Still Blue Presents: Christmas Compilation 2012 (download here) 001 Rufus Wainwright & Sharon Van Etten - Baby, It’s Cold Outside 002 Laura Marling - Goodbye England (Covered In Snow) 003 Allo Darlin- S P A C E Christmas 004 Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Christmas Eve Can Kill You 005 The White Stripes - Candy Cane Children 006 Brett Dennen - The Holidays Are Here (And We’re Still At War) 007 Yarn - Christmas Song 008 The xx - Last Christmas 009 Belle & Sebastian - Winter Wooskie 010 Best Coast & Wavves - Got Something for You 011 Calexico - Green Grows the Holly 012 Doug Paisley - Winter Days 013 Sufjan Stevens - Christmas in the room 014 Mandi Mapes & Wilder Adkins - On His Shoulders 015 Tellison - Good Luck It's Christmas 016 The Head and the Heart - What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve 017 Great Lake Swimmers - Hang a string of lights 018 The Veils - Sit Down by the ...

A great Everly Brothers cover by two artists who also made a gorgeous Everly Brothers tribute album, called What The Brothers Sang:

They call it 'Paul McCartney meets Eels meets Wilco meets The Kelly Family'. It sure is an odd version of 'Wonderful Christmastime' by Dutch band Gasoline Brothers: Christmas Songs by The Gasoline Brothers

Bandcamp is chock-full of great Christmas tracks, as you've probably noticed. Here's another one by Loop Line: Wishlist by Loop Line

This is one of the best tracks on one of the longest running Xmas compilations, Arbor Christmas (Vol. 13!) Arbor Christmas: Volume 13 by The Gifters Another nice compilation is the second round up of seasonal songs by bands from (around) St. Louis, by radio stadion KDHX. Go here to check out free tracks by Deer Tick (!), Née and Rah Rah.

No, it's not Cliff Huxtable and family, it's a soulband from New Zealand: How'm I Gonna Lose You This Christmas by The Cosbys (Hat tip to Stubby )

Yay, another new French Christmas song!

Now THIS is weird:

Here's something you'd want to see, a documentary on the seminal Christmas song 'Fairytale of New York'. It was broadcasted on Sunday, but it turns out this documentary is about 4 years old and you can watch it on YouTube as well ( HERE ). From the BBC website: "All eight members of the Pogues return to the studio where their biggest hit - and one of the nation's favourite Christmas songs - was recorded. Fairytale of New York's producer Steve Lillywhite strips the song down to the basics, and video director Peter Dougherty reveals the tricks behind the making of the video - including how a cameo from Hollywood star Matt Dillon stopped the Pogues from almost being arrested. With contributions from Matt Dillon, Nick Cave, Jools Holland and of course Shane MacGowan and the Pogues, this lifts the lid on the seminal track and reveals the secrets behind its making." Here's a Spotify-list with 10 cover versions of Fairytale. Here's more (Pog...

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, well, this is proof that the countdown to Christmas is paved with songs thrown together, albeit for a good cause. The 'message' is that everyone is equal, no matter where they come from -- and I am sure they meant it -- but of course anything not typically white Dutch or ethnically accepted is painfully pointed out as being different, but equal. In other words, if we all love (soccer club) Ajax, we can all love each other. I'm a bit scared. Chorus: We zijn Ajax = We are Ajax, the 'j' in Dutch is a 'y'.

Gorgeous Ron Sexsmith-cover by Rumer: Thanks PL

Johan Hedberg is a member of Swedish twee pop duo Suburban Kids with Biblical Names . This is his funny Christmas song:

Jeff Hershey knows the truth about Santa, and wrote a brooding rhythm & blues song about it.

Brigitte - Noel blanc (right click, save as) (it's not Bardot, but these filles )

Go to this brilliant blog to download a whole bunch of fantastic Christmas compilations

From an extensive, free downloadable compilation comes this upbeat Christmas track: ONE CHORD PROGRESSION STUFFS YOUR STOCKINGS Vol. 1 by Jim Diamond's Pop Monsoon Don't forget to check out this great snotty powerpop track as well!

Dressy Bessy is a indie-rockband from Denver, Colorado who are around since the mid-90s and made some classy albums. This is their (free!) Christmas single, as far as I know the second time they made a seasonal track Whatever You Want (For Christmas) by Dressy Bessy

I love countrified, blue Christmas songs. This is a beautiful example by Arrica Rose: On Christmas Night by Arrica Rose & the ...'s

Christmas Snow! from brainwerk on 8tracks Radio .

A Dutch gem! Found out about this one thx to Stubby , and to Lie in the Sound : Download for free here.

Go HERE to listen to Mr Ronny Hammond's fab new Xxx-mass mix (#8). Watch:

Dutch 'nederbeat'-band The Kik did a great Dutch version of their English Christmas song on Dutch tv:

Noël en juin by the band La Postion du Tireur Couché ( yep ) is one of the few French tracks on a Christmas album released by the Clermont-Ferrand based concert hall Coopérative de Mai. Read more (in French) here (FB-link). Spotify-link here . Download: La Position du tireur couché - Noël en juin (right click, save as)

All I WANT For Christmas from brainwerk on 8tracks Radio .

You probably heard about Jingle Bell Rocks, a documentary in the making about off-beat Christmas songs, the ones we're posting here for years. Santa Claus was a Black Man, Close your mouth (it's Christmas), etc. Film maker Mitchell Kezin needs your help, he needs money to finish his documentary. Go HERE to read more, to see an endorsement by the great John Waters, and how to donate. See HERE also.

Nice little ditty by Adam Bricks: Kristmas by Adam Bricks

Judy Garland's evergreen in a folky stylee:

Free download of a great X-mas track (the bells! the bells!) by Los Campesinos. Go HERE

Office Romance = Les Savy Fav’s Syd Butler and Seth Jabour, and Amy Carlson.

Brilliant Captain Beefheart cover by Robyn Hitchcock, for one of the bestest Christmas comps of the year. Read more here . Spotify link here . Hat tip to SWO

21 tracks by indie-bands about Christmas, for free! My fave is Ormonde's Angels we have heard on high. Ormonde Christmas EP by Ormonde

The 4th compilation of Canadian bands getting in the Christmas mood. I especially like Maylee Todd's sweet St Etienne-cover, and The Meek's Cricket Carols. Go HERE to listen, share and download for FREE

This new track by the legendary Primitives is just one of a bunch of xmas choons from the great seasonal compilation by Spanish label Elefant Records. Go HERE for details (Links via Santas Working Overtime )

YES, this is what all ye funksters were waiting for, a brand spanking new Christmas mix by Dr Rubberfunk! Go HERE for more festive funk.

Maybe not a very festive band name, but their reworks of classic carols are AMAZING! Funky and hard-hitting. Check out this LOUD version of Come All Ye Faithful: Or this great Li'l Drummer Boy (see the video too!): More? Here!

The most beautiful new Christmas song of this year? No contest. It's this one by former Black Box Recorder siren Sarah Nixey: Download from here (right click, save as)

The First Ornaments of Christmas is a live multimedia project from the brain/hand/pen/voice of Bentonville, AR Resident Bryce Napier and a surrounding group of artists. Defying easy categorization, the creators jokingly call it a Christmas-indie-classical-multimedia-rock-opera. In the live setting, the 11-piece band performs with narrative breaks between 11 songs. At the same time, animated footage plays on projectors overhead, illustrating the story being sung. The First Ornaments of Christmas by The First Ornaments of Christmas ‘First Ornaments’ is a Christmas feast for the eyes and ears, helping viewers imagine the Christmas story like never before. Parents, children, art students, and music enthusiasts alike enjoy the beautifully-designed characters, the bright colors, and the imaginative sounds. The project was performed live 3 times in 2011 and 6 times in 2012. The album features a studio recording of the entire production including music and narration. More info here .

Great band name. Great Beach Boys-inspired Christmas song: The Man in Red - EP by Surf School Dropouts

If you like a bit of southern drawl under the misteltoe, make way for Cal Folger Day and squaredance around the Christmas tree! holydays by Cal Folger Day

“I remember vividly thinking that dry socks, smokes, and a bottle of whiskey would be a hell of a Christmas gift.” says Steven Stubblefield, the man behind Austin’s Starlings, TN. Listen: The Holidaze by Starlings, TN

Boston indie-trio The Hush Now made a song about something we can all relate to: I'm Always Broke in December by The Hush Now

Paul Coltofeanu = Free Swim, and this is his really cool Christmas song. More Free Swim music here

"Kishi Bashi is the pseudonym for violin virtuoso K Ishibashi. Having recorded, toured, and collaborated with diverse artists such as Regina Spektor, Sondre Lerche, and of Montreal, Kishi Bashi released his first full-length album "151a" in April 2012." So says this website. It was also the place where you could order t his fantastic X-mas hymn on a snowflake shaped flexi disc (see clip), but alas, it's sold out :-(

Awesome: Want More? HERE

Last year, we posted 'I'm Not Really In The Christmas Mood This Year' by Foxtails Brigade. From their album (stream/buy on Bandcamp ) they made an X-mas themed video to accompany Unfairness Awareness

FINALLY, a new funky Christmas choon, courtesy of one of Holland's finest funk combo's, The Soul Snatchers featuring Jimi Bellmartin. If you go HERE , you find a download link for the song (bottom of the page). It's actually the same band behind this great X-mas song , which was recently covered in Polish (!)

"A collection of your favorite Christmas songs, merrily reinterpreted with exotic cheer, unexpected instrumentations, and mischievous smirks". That's what Tribecastan offer on their Twisted Christmas EP. In their own words: "On their first single, “God Rest Ye Three Kings,” Tribecastan takes us on a midnight joyride across the desert sands with a figgy pudding of hand drums, sitar, sarod, mandocello, brass and bulbul tarang. This tongue in cheek amalgam of yule tide spirit and holiday chutzpah is a change of pace from the standard seasonal-tunes of old." The Twisted Chrismas EP is available on Bandcamp .

If anyone can tell me why these kids think Christmas is war, please do tell! And if you can't wait to hear more black metal carols, go to www.erlosung.com and download the Christmas Ist Krieg album. Ps: extensive listening will cause churchburning

Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick made a Christmas album with ten (ok, one's a Chanukah song, so nine) Christmas tracks. Style-wise, they're swimming in the same pond as They Might Be Giants, Fountains of Wayne and Flight of the Conchords. Hear more here . See also this . 2600 is a song about a kid wanting an Atari 2600 really, REALLY bad.

French star Olivia Ruiz just released a new album, featuring a Christmas song that's not really a Christmas song. Or is it?

The surfin' first track says it all, this is a compilation that needs to be championed on this blog! Hey, It's Christmas! - Vol. 3 by The Oceanauts Volume I here , Volume II here

British quartet Allo Darlin' made a really great seasonal EP. The titles seem un-Christmas-y, but listen to Only Dust Behind. 7777777 by Allo Darlin'

Yep, they're from Holland. And they make odd, but good X-mas tunes. This is their fourth seasonal album: How to microwave whole turkey by The Non Traditionals

Have yourself a merry little dream pop style Christmas:

Love that bandname, love this fateful Christmas song: You Can't Have Christmas, It's Mine by Laurence Made Me Cry

Thanks to Stubby for featuring this great r&b-tinged, Little Richard-esque Christmas stomper by JD McPherson. You gots to hear this :

Born in Egypt and raised in the UK, Gillian Hills became a celebrity in France, as a similar looking yet better singer than Brigitte Bardot. This was a time when powerful men decided on the fate of starlets, and if French director Roger Vadim felt that Gillian resembled his ex-wife Brigitte Bardot, then it had to be true. Gillian got a boost in popularity recently when American audiences discovered a cover version of her song 'Zou Bisou Bisou' on TV series Mad Men, Gillian's first single back in 1960. Here's Gillian covering Bobby Helms' 'Jingle Bell Rock' in French, entitled 'La tête à l'envers', literally, 'My head upside down', which implies being dumbfounded by love. Gillian Hills - La tête à l'envers